San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-16
INDEPENDENCE.
San Antonio Mexicans Celebrate
Festivities of the Occaslon-No
Longer Servants of
GnalD.

Festivities OF the OccasIon-No
Longer Servants of
Spain.
celebration OF the great day OF Mexican
independence In this city kindly held
aloft until the festivities were nearly end
c1 and the majority OF those who partook
which natures on Sept. Is had returned
to their homes. Then were the win
dows OF heaven opened for brief space
and kindly nature watered the dusty
San Pedro springs park that 1t might be
a more inviting pl ce for the festivities
vet to follow.
The procession advertised to form on
Military plaza moved promptly ut the
hour designated, 1880 p. m, and took the
line OF march designated In the pro-
gramme.
Grand Marshal Perez with the Fash
ion theatre band, headed the triumphal
procession, which WAS ablaZe with
torches and hammered like an army. The
inspiriting strains OF martial music, the
rockets, candles and crackers, which
lent the noise and powdery smell of hor-
rid war to the peaceful parade, all
served to fill the cavaloade with enthu-
siasm and patriotism. Across the plaza,
down Commerce into Laredo street,
across to Doloross, back to Main plaza
ana thence out Acequia street to the
Springs, there was nothing dolorOus
about the affair save the street through
which they marched. The line Of oar
riages contained his honor, the mayor
and the orators Of the eocasion-Carde-
mas, Barrera and Col. Rip Ford; the pro-
cession moved in the following order:
Grand Marshal Alejo Perez.
Aides Jose K. Garcia, A. z. Rivas, Ed.
Froboese, Jr., Andreas Brown, Jose An
gel, Aldana and Jose Bsnajas.
Band Of music.
Mexican and American flags.
Mayor Callaghan.
Presidents OF the Mutualista and Be-
nevOlenoia societies.
Invited societies.
The general committee.
Mutualista and Beneyolenoia socie.
Citizens mounted, on foot and In car
riages.
Reaching the main entrance to the
springs, above the arohed gateway OF
which was the gas Illuminated motto
"Bien Venido," the ranks were closed
up and the torch bearers marched In to
glory, oratory and supper. The decora-
lions on the breasts OF the marshals, the
regala of the "Sociedades Mutualista Y
BenevOleDcia" and the banners Uf the
moving crowds as they took their places
upon and around the central stage In
the park grounds, made beautiful yet
weird picture under the fitful light Of
the flashing torches.
In the mean time the cars were dis
charging hundreds Of visitors and
hundreds more in private carriages were
crowding the drives so that by the
time the speaking commenced dense
throDg crowded the area allotted to the
oratorical exercises. A row of Chinese
lanterns surrounded the grove, and
above their fanclful light the dark
green OF the great trees served as q
screen to the clouded sky and Iustled
bPnediction upon the exercises comment
Orative. The grounds were supplied
with everything conceivable, perceiva-
BILE, and deceivable in the various gaily
decorated stalls, and the air fairly
hummed with tine hustle OF preparation
and the sense OF good fellowship when
the band having finished the overture
Capt. Cardenas called to order.
The 1900 present grew still as the ef-
fervescence Of the occasion permitted as
the Captain delivered his address of
welcome. The Mexican reporter of the
LIGHT being In Monterey, no synopsis of
the Captains speech is attempted, nor
OF the equally eloquent and patriotic adj
dress of Don Juan Barrera, which fol-
lowed. Col. Rip Ford was next intro
duced and responded most happily:
He told them about the early times OF
Mexico, under the old regime, spoke Of
the struggle for independence and OF the
troublous times before and after this
event. He spoke of the revolutions
which had handicapped the progress of
the nation. He spoke Of the attitude of
the United States toward Mexico and
of Mexico toward the United States. He
advised neither to think of going to
war. Could one republic conquer an
other? and should they, 1t would be
preposterous. Continuing In this strain.
he was frequently loudly cheered, and
certainly his speech deserved the high
est encOmiums.
Speaking over, the dancing pavilions
were sought as with one impulse and
the dancing was unidentified until the
United States artillery Numbered forth
at midnight a salute OF q guns In COM
memoration of the hour at which the
immortal Hidalgo, on the 18th OF Sep
TENDER, 1910, led his cOuntrymen to vie
tory with the shout, Liberty, Inde-
pendence or DEATH" victory which
freed his country from foreign dominion
forever.
Dancing was continued some hours
later, to be resumed this afternoon and
evening, as the festivities do not close
until Saturday. Patriot addresses will
be given this afternoon, and the spirit
of the great day of national independ-
ence will be fully observed.